Many taxpayers eagerly await their income tax refund after filing their Income Tax Return (ITR). However, delays in receiving refunds are a common concern every year. If your income tax refund is delayed, there’s no need to panic there are specific authorities and official channels you can contact to resolve the issue quickly. Here’s a detailed guide on who to contact and what steps to take if your refund has not been credited on time.
Why Is Your Income Tax Refund Delayed?
Before contacting authorities, it’s important to understand the common reasons behind refund delays:
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Incorrect bank account details or IFSC code
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ITR not verified (e-verification pending)
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Mismatch between ITR and Form 26AS/AIS
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Pending response to Income Tax Department notice
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Technical processing delays by the department
Identifying the reason can help speed up resolution.
1. Check Refund Status on the Income Tax e-Filing Portal
The first point of contact is the official Income Tax e-Filing portal.
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Log in using your PAN and password
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Go to My Account → Refund/Demand Status
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Check whether the refund is “Processed”, “Issued”, or “Failed”
If the refund shows as “Issued” but not credited, you may need to take further action.
2. Contact the Income Tax Department (e-Filing Helpdesk)
If your refund is still pending after processing, you can contact the Income Tax Department’s helpdesk.
How to Contact:
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Helpline Number: Available on the e-filing portal
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Email Support: Through the “Grievance” or “Help” section
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Live Chat: Available on the e-filing website
Make sure to keep your PAN, acknowledgment number, and assessment year handy.
3. Reach Out to the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC), Bengaluru
The Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) is responsible for processing income tax returns and issuing refunds.
If your refund status shows “Processed but not received”, CPC is the right authority to contact.
CPC Contact Options:
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Toll-free helpline mentioned on the portal
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Online grievance submission under e-Nivaran
4. Contact Your Bank if Refund Has Failed
Sometimes, refunds fail due to incorrect or inactive bank account details.
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Check if your bank account is pre-validated on the portal
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Ensure the account is linked with PAN
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Contact your bank to confirm whether any refund credit was attempted
You can also re-issue the refund after correcting bank details on the portal.
5. File a Grievance Using e-Nivaran
If all else fails, taxpayers can file a complaint through the e-Nivaran grievance redressal system on the Income Tax website.
Steps:
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Log in to the e-Filing portal
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Select Grievance → Submit Grievance
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Choose “Refund related issue”
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Track the status regularly
This method is effective for long-pending refund issues.
How Long Does It Take to Receive a Refund?
Typically, income tax refunds are credited within 20–45 days after successful ITR verification. However, timelines may vary depending on return complexity and verification delays.